Michael Burton, West Morris and Rutgers star, signing with new NFL team
The Browns are reportedly signing West Morris and Rutgers grad Michael Burton, adding a fullback to their roster for the first time in five years.
Michael Burton is moving on. The veteran fullback, a West Morris and Rutgers graduate, is reportedly signing with the Cleveland Browns for his 12th NFL season. Burton has played in 147 games for Detroit, Chicago, Washington, New Orleans, Kansas City – where he was part of winning Super Bowl LVII in 2023 – and most recently two seasons in Denver.
This will be the first time the Browns have had a fullback on their roster since 2021. Burton, 34, spent last season on injured reserve, and bounced between the Broncos ' practice squad and active roster the year before. Though the 6-foot, 247-pound Burton gained social-media notoriety for a 1-yard touchdown catch from Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, he has primarily been a blocker during his pro career.
Michael Burton's career at West Morris, Rutgers Burton set 10 West Morris records in high school, including 1,769 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns en route to the NJSIAA Group 3 title in 2009, but he did not receive any NCAA Division I scholarship offers. He chose to walk on at Rutgers so his family would be able to watch him play. Burton received a scholarship after his redshirt freshman season, and was voted a captain by his Scarlet Knights teammates.
He started 24 of the 30 games in which he appeared, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round in the 2015 NFL Draft . Browns Wire contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Michael Burton, West Morris and Rutgers star, signing with Cleveland Browns